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via F1iLeclerc defends Ferrari call as Vasseur sees missed Madring winCharles Leclerc expressed confidence in Ferrari's strategic decision during the Spanish Grand Prix, where he led for a significant portion of the race. Despite the team's gamble on a hard-tyre strategy, they did not receive the hoped-for Safety Car, leading to Leclerc finishing in fourth place without regrets about the strategy employed.
Fred Vasseur, Ferrari's team principal, assessed that the team had the potential for a race win based on their pace, particularly during Leclerc's long stint on hard tires. He emphasized that the team's focus should be on improving their qualifying performance, as they struggled to secure a better starting position, which ultimately affected their race outcome.
via Formula1.comWhy Vasseur believes Ferrari had the pace to win in MadridFred Vasseur expressed confidence in Ferrari's performance during the Spanish Grand Prix, suggesting that Charles Leclerc had the potential to win if circumstances had favored him. Leclerc's strategy of not pitting during the Virtual Safety Car allowed him to lead for a time, but ultimately he finished fourth after a long stint on hard tires without a safety intervention to aid his strategy.
Hamilton's race ended prematurely due to a brake issue, marking his first DNF of the season. He had a strong start but quickly fell back as he struggled with braking. Vasseur noted that the team's strategy was sound, but they missed opportunities in qualifying that impacted their overall race performance.
via f1technical.netHamilton offers explanation for his technical issues at the MadringLewis Hamilton faced a disappointing end to the Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring, retiring due to a brake issue that emerged while he was racing. After showing competitive pace throughout the weekend, Hamilton's race took a turn when he experienced a malfunction with the brake pedal, leading to a collision with the barrier. This incident marked his first did not finish (DNF) of the 2026 season, despite his belief that he had a car capable of winning the race.
While Hamilton's race ended prematurely, teammate Charles Leclerc managed to secure a fourth-place finish, employing an aggressive strategy that allowed him to lead for a significant portion of the race. Despite the mixed results, Ferrari demonstrated strong performance and potential, leaving the team optimistic for future races. Hamilton expressed gratitude towards his team for their efforts and highlighted the missed opportunity to capitalize on their competitive package.
via PlanetF1Spanish GP conclusions: Imaginary Hamilton challenge over, Norris joins elite, soulless MadringKimi Antonelli secured his eighth victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Spanish Grand Prix, solidifying his lead in the championship standings. His win came after Lando Norris, who was leading, lost his position due to a virtual safety car, allowing Max Verstappen to finish second. Antonelli's performance has positioned him as a strong contender for the world championship, with a significant points gap over his closest rival, George Russell.
Lando Norris has demonstrated significant growth as a driver, particularly highlighted by his recent victory at the Dutch Grand Prix. His ability to seize opportunities on the track has improved, as evidenced by his strategic overtaking of Antonelli during that race. With his recent performances, Norris is now regarded as one of the elite drivers in Formula 1, showcasing a newfound confidence that has elevated his racing capabilities.
via newsonf1.comMekies admits ‘car degradation’ problem will lingerLaurent Mekies, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, has acknowledged that the team is struggling to fully comprehend the 'car degradation' issues that Max Verstappen has been experiencing. This problem, which affects the performance of the RB22 during races and practice sessions, is expected to continue into the 2027 season, despite some progress made in recent races.
Verstappen has expressed his frustration with the situation, indicating that he does not foresee a comeback in the championship standings. Mekies has refrained from disclosing the specific causes of the degradation but recognizes its complexity, suggesting that it will remain a challenge for the team in the near future.
via lightsoutblog.com2026 Spanish Grand Prix: Race Statistics, Facts and TriviaKimi Antonelli secured victory at the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix, becoming the first winner at the new MADRING circuit and achieving his eighth win of the season. This victory allowed him to surpass teammate George Russell on the all-time wins list, while Max Verstappen maintained his record of finishing on the podium at every circuit on the current calendar.
In addition to Antonelli's success, Charles Leclerc reached a milestone by leading 1,000 laps in his career. The race saw several retirements, including Lewis Hamilton, who faced braking issues, and Lance Stroll, who had a third consecutive DNF. The results highlighted the competitive nature of the season, with notable performances from drivers like Lando Norris and Liam Lawson.
via grandprix.comMcLaren tries to bring Lambiase move forwardMcLaren is reportedly in discussions with Red Bull to expedite Gianpiero Lambiase's move to their team, originally scheduled for 2028, to as early as 2027. This comes as Max Verstappen prepares to race without Lambiase for three weekends, during which Tom Hart is set to take over as his race engineer. The negotiations hinge on Red Bull's willingness to release Lambiase and any potential gardening leave he may need to serve.
Lambiase has been a key figure in Verstappen's career since 2016, and his departure will lead to a restructuring of responsibilities within Red Bull. Tom McCullough is expected to step in as Head of Racing. The situation gained traction after Lambiase was spotted conversing with McLaren's CEO, Zak Brown, indicating potential collaboration. The effectiveness of the new arrangement will be tested during the upcoming races in Austin, Sao Paulo, and Las Vegas.
via RacingNews365Hamilton Discusses Ferrari Retirement During Spanish Grand PrixLewis Hamilton experienced his first retirement of the 2026 season during the Spanish Grand Prix. Max Verstappen found humor in Hamilton's explanation regarding the circumstances of the Ferrari retirement.
via Motorsport WeekMax Verstappen Criticizes Racing Decisions After Spanish GP IncidentMax Verstappen expressed frustration over a racing decision during the Spanish Grand Prix. He was particularly upset about being instructed to relinquish positions gained after a first-lap clash with Lewis Hamilton.
via RacingNews365Max Verstappen issues comical response to successful Lando Norris defenceMax Verstappen achieved a surprising second-place finish at the Spanish Grand Prix, having started from third. His race included an early incident where he passed both Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli but was instructed by Red Bull to give those positions back. After Hamilton's retirement, Verstappen regained third place and eventually moved up to second when Lando Norris was unable to pit during a virtual safety car period.
In the final laps, Norris closed in on Verstappen but could not overtake due to the track's layout, which Verstappen criticized for lacking overtaking opportunities. Verstappen humorously explained his defense strategy, emphasizing the importance of positioning his car effectively to maintain grip and fend off Norris's advances.Wikimedia Commons · Steffen Prößdorf, crop by Cerebral726 · CC BY-SA 4.0Charles LECLERC leads the Race at MadringCharles LECLERC takes the lead from Lando NORRIS — live from Madring, Spain.
via f1oversteer.comToto Wolff gives his opinion on Max Verstappen’s upbringing now that his own son is racingToto Wolff has shared insights on Max Verstappen's upbringing, highlighting the intense training and guidance provided by his father, Jos Verstappen. Despite some regrets expressed by Jos, Max acknowledges the necessity of this tough love, which has contributed to their strong relationship and Max's success in Formula 1.
Wolff, who has a son racing in karting, is interested in how his own parenting approach will compare to that of the Verstappens. He admires the dynamic between Max and Jos and has expressed a desire to have Max join Mercedes in the future, although they currently remain fierce competitors.
via Motorsport.comVerstappen seeks overtaking strategies for Spanish GPMax Verstappen acknowledges the difficulty of overtaking at the Spanish Grand Prix. After qualifying third, he emphasizes the need to identify potential overtaking spots to compete with Lando Norris for the win.
via CrashTwist in Madrid Ferrari power deficit between Lewis Hamilton and Charles LeclercDuring the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were initially set to use different power units, with Leclerc on the older ADUO 1 due to a crash in the previous race. However, Hamilton reverted to the same ADUO 1 unit before Saturday's qualifying, eliminating any power deficit between the two drivers.
Hamilton qualified fourth, narrowly beating Leclerc by just 0.006 seconds. Leclerc expressed concerns that using the older engine affected his performance, particularly in the first sector of the track. Ferrari is still assessing the condition of Leclerc's ADUO 2 power unit for future use.
via PlanetF1FIA confirms Charles Leclerc decision after Spanish Grand Prix investigationThe FIA has confirmed that Charles Leclerc will not face punishment following an investigation into his performance during qualifying at the Spanish Grand Prix. The stewards determined that Ferrari was solely responsible for the delta time discrepancies, which led to Leclerc's failure to meet the required time limits between Safety Car lines. As a result, Ferrari received a reprimand, while Leclerc was deemed not at fault for the incident.
In qualifying, Leclerc secured the fifth-fastest time but expressed concerns that using an older power unit specification may have hindered his performance. He noted that he lost significant time in the first sector of his lap, which he plans to analyze further. Despite the challenges, Leclerc maintained that his lap was clean overall.
via f1oversteer.comFernando Alonso thinks Aston Martin’s press officer could be ‘faster’ than Max Verstappen at MadringFernando Alonso has voiced his discontent with the 2026 Formula 1 regulations, suggesting that they diminish the role of driver skill in racing. He made a comparison between Aston Martin's press officer and Max Verstappen, claiming that the press officer could potentially outperform Verstappen due to the current car dynamics and battery power management.
Alonso's performance at the Spanish Grand Prix was disappointing, as he qualified in P18, significantly behind the pole position time. He emphasized that the new regulations have made it so that driver bravery and skill are less impactful, particularly at challenging corners like La Monumental, which he believes should allow skilled drivers to stand out.
via newsonf1.comVerstappen says Alonso must decide F1 future himselfSep.13 (GMM) Max Verstappen says Fernando Alonso should not be persuaded into extending his Formula 1 career, as the Spaniard continues to blame the current regulations for making him consider walking away. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has openly said he wants to convince the 45-year-old to stay, but Verstappen believes the decision belongs entirely…
via RacingNews365McLaren eager for Max Verstappen ally arrival as Lewis Hamilton addresses pole defeat – RacingNews365 ReviewMcLaren is actively negotiating with Red Bull to expedite the transfer of Gianpiero Lambiase to their team. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton expressed disappointment after realizing that his Ferrari was not competitive enough during the crucial moments of qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix.
In the same qualifying session, Lando Norris achieved pole position, impressively surpassing Kimi Antonelli. McLaren's team principal, Andrea Stella, commended Norris for his outstanding performance, while Antonelli reflected on the intense nature of the qualifying battle.
via RacingNews365Max Verstappen makes ‘BS’ claim as Lando Norris delivers lap of the GodsLando Norris achieved an impressive pole position at the Madring for the Spanish Grand Prix, narrowly beating Kimi Antonelli by just 0.011 seconds. This performance came as a surprise, as Antonelli was considered the frontrunner for the pole before qualifying began. The Ferrari drivers, despite their strong expectations, ended up in fourth and fifth places, while George Russell rounded out the top six.
Max Verstappen criticized the new Madring circuit, labeling a claim about the lack of overtaking space as 'BS.' His comments reflect ongoing discussions about the circuit's design and its impact on racing dynamics. The qualifying session showcased the competitive nature of the field, with Norris's standout lap highlighting his potential in the championship.
via gpfans.comGianpiero Lambiase meets with McLaren's Zak Brown in MadridGianpiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen's race engineer, was seen meeting with McLaren's Zak Brown in the Madrid F1 paddock. This meeting is part of McLaren's efforts to facilitate Lambiase's early arrival to the team.Page 19 of 44
